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Venue:
Bath CC 3rd XI v Lansdown CC 2nd XI
Bath CC 3rd XI v Lansdown CC 2nd XI
Bath’s 3rd XI continued their unbeaten run against Lansdown CC 2nd XI on Saturday. Playing away at Combe Park, Bath’s decision to insert Lansdown seemed to pay off as Mo Hamza swiftly removed skipped, Dan Veal for a duck. Lansdown then rebuilt their innings through Harry Veal (21), Ollie Gooding (34) and Benjamin Holman (29), but the timely reintroduction of Hamza saw the home side slip from 119-4 to 140-7, as the talented off spinner picked up three quick wickets to finish with 4-35. Although Lansdown’s lower order then all chipped in, they were eventually bowled out for 183 in the 38th over. Tim Scott (2-24) and Will Ireland (2-36) also bowled well.
Bath’s reply stuttered as they lost both openers, Mike Staves (1) and Luke Stringer (10) inside the first nine overs to leave the away side 31-2. Ishwar Suresh then joined Freddie Stappard at the crease and briefly threatened to repeat last weeks century, as he injected some momentum into the innings smashing 27 from just 12 balls. But as Bath then lost Dan Hope, run out for 8, and Stappard went soon after for an excellent 45, at 103-5 the match looked nicely poised for a tight finish. Ben Harper (41*) then brilliantly marshalled the chase batting well with the lower order, and with an important contribution from Innes Pierce (23), Bath managed to just get over the line with seven balls to spare to win by one wicket. As a result of this win, Bath 3rd XI remain top of B&D Division One, but face their closest rivals Midsomer Norton CC 2nd XI in a top of the table clash next weekend.